Br. Athanasius Murphy, O.P., on Lent and Sacrifice

"Why sacrifice?

"Imagine yourself on a pilgrimage. Not to Lourdes or Fatima, but wandering in the Sinai desert en route to the promised land of Canaan. You're told by Moses and company that the land you're aiming for is a great land, one flowing with milk, honey, and other delights. Yet as good as the goal sounds, it's hard to think of the end when your stops along the way include desert-fatigue and the sword of Amalek. The question might arise, why put up with this at all? Couldn't God bring me to the promised land without all this hassle?

"Now imagine yourself in the midst of the Lenten season, with an overambitious list of penances and a waning fervor to do them. The question might arise, why do them at all? Isn't there any easier way to sainthood than the hassle of penance and sacrifice?

"I think we have trouble keeping up Lenten penances because we fail to see their meaning and depth. Faulty approaches to penance usually involve refraining from penance altogether, or overdoing it. The first fails to see that sacrifice can really change us, while the second's scatter-shot method leaves us equally scattered and enervated from its misdirected zeal."

In a recent commentary, Brother Athanasius Murphy, O.P., reflected on the role of sacrifice in Lent and on how to give sacrifice and interior depth.

To access Br. Athanasius' complete reflection, please visit:

Dominicana: Heart and Sacrifice (11 MAR 15)